Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-08-08
Septic permitting in Georgia is mixed: 103 counties use county health departments, 0 go through a state agency, and 56 through regional districts.Every entry below names the approving authority for that county, cited to the authority’s own page.
Septic rules change and some cities run their own programs — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All states → Georgia water rights & wells → Full Georgia profile →
159 counties · mixed — varies by county · permit status scouted for 79
Appling County Environmental Health (Southeast Health District, GA DPH)
Southeast Health District - Appling County Health Department ↗Southeast Health District - Environmental Health (Atkinson County Health Department)
Southeast Health District - Environmental Health Programs ↗Bacon County Environmental Health, Southeast Health District (Georgia DPH)
Southeast Health District - Bacon County Health Department ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District (District 8-2, Albany) Environmental Health
Georgia DPH — District 8-2 / Albany / Southwest Health District ↗Baldwin County Environmental Health (North Central Health District, GA DPH)
North Central Health District — Baldwin County Environmental Health ↗Banks County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, Georgia DPH)
Banks County FAQ - Septic Permitting ↗Barrow County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District, Georgia DPH)
Barrow County GA - Permits (Environmental Health approval) ↗Northwest Georgia Public Health District (District 1-1) Environmental Health - Bartow County
Northwest Georgia Public Health - Land Use / Onsite Sewage ↗Ben Hill County Health Department (Environmental Health), South Health District, Georgia DPH
South Health District - Ben Hill County Health Department ↗Berrien County Environmental Health (South Health District, GA DPH)
South Health District - Berrien Environmental Health ↗Macon-Bibb County Environmental Health (North Central Health District, GA DPH)
North Central Health District - Bibb County Environmental Health ↗South Central Health District — Environmental Health (Bleckley County)
South Central Health District Septic Tank Permits ↗Brantley County Environmental Health, Southeast Health District (Georgia DPH)
Southeast Health District Environmental Health - On-Site Sewage ↗South Health District (Georgia DPH) - Brooks County Environmental Health
South Health District - Environmental Services ↗Georgia Coastal Health District, Environmental Health (Bryan County Board of Health, under GA DPH)
Georgia Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Bulloch County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
Georgia DPH - Bulloch County Health Department ↗Burke County Environmental Health (East Central Health District, GA DPH)
East Central Health District - On-Site Sewage ↗Butts County Environmental Health / District 4 Public Health (Georgia Dept of Public Health)
Georgia Dept of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District (District 8-2, Albany), Calhoun County Environmental Health
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗Georgia Coastal Health District - Camden County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
Georgia Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Candler County Environmental Health / Candler County Board of Health, Southeast Health District (Georgia Department of Public Health)
Southeast Health District - On-Site Sewage ↗Carroll County Health Department, Environmental Health
Carroll County GA - Building Permits (Environmental Health septic requirement) ↗Catoosa County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH, North GA Health District)
Catoosa County - Environmental Health ↗Charlton County Health Department Environmental Health (Southeast Health District, GA DPH)
Charlton County Health Department ↗Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health (Coastal Health District, GA DPH)
Chatham County Code - Chapter 20 Building (Construction) Regulations ↗Chattahoochee County Environmental Health, West Central Health District (Georgia DPH)
West Central Health District - Environmental Health ↗Chattooga County Environmental Health (Northwest Georgia Public Health District, GA DPH)
Northwest Georgia Public Health, Environmental Health / Land Use ↗Cherokee County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District)
Cherokee County Environmental Health ↗Clarke County Health Department Office of Environmental Health (GA DPH Board of Health)
Athens-Clarke County - Environmental Health Department Resources ↗Clay County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, Georgia DPH)
Georgia Department of Public Health — Onsite Sewage ↗Clayton County Health District - Office of Environmental Services (under Georgia DPH)
Clayton County Health District - Wastewater Management ↗Clinch County Environmental Health, Southeast Health District (Georgia DPH District 8-2)
Southeast Health District Environmental Health Programs ↗Cobb & Douglas Public Health, Environmental Health Division
Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Septic System Applications ↗Coffee County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
Georgia DPH - Coffee County Health Department ↗Colquitt County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, under GA DPH)
Southwest Georgia Public Health - Colquitt County Environmental Health ↗Columbia County Environmental Health (East Central Health District, GA DPH)
East Central Health District - On-Site Sewage ↗Cook County Environmental Health (South Health District, Georgia Department of Public Health)
South Health District - Cook County Septic Tank/Well Permit Application ↗Coweta County Environmental Health (District 4 Public Health)
District 4 Public Health - Wastewater Management ↗Crawford County Environmental Health (North Central Health District, GA DPH)
North Central Health District - Crawford County Environmental Health ↗Crisp County Environmental Health (West Central Health District, Georgia DPH)
West Central Health District - Environmental Health ↗Dade County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH Northwest Health District)
Dade County GA - Permits ↗Dawson County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, Georgia DPH)
Dawson County, GA Environmental Health ↗Decatur County Environmental Health - Southwest Georgia Public Health District (8-2), under GA DPH
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗DeKalb County Board of Health - Environmental Health
DeKalb County New Single Family Residential Permit Guide ↗Dodge County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH, South Central Health District)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗West Central Health District (District 7), Dooly County Environmental Health
West Central Health District – Dooly County Health Department ↗Dougherty County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗Cobb & Douglas Public Health / Douglas County Board of Health (under GA DPH)
Cobb & Douglas Public Health - Septic Systems ↗Early County Health Department, Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, under Georgia DPH)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗South Health District (District 8-1, Valdosta) - Environmental Health / Land Use Services
South Health District - Environmental Services ↗Effingham County Environmental Health (Coastal Health District, Georgia DPH)
Georgia Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic ↗Elbert County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District, GA DPH)
Northeast Health District - Environmental Health ↗Emanuel County Environmental Health (East Central Health District, GA DPH)
East Central Health District - Emanuel County Health Department ↗Evans County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH Southeast Health District)
Southeast Health District - Evans County Health Department ↗Fannin County Environmental Health Department (North Georgia Health District, GA DPH)
Fannin County Environmental Health - Septic Permit Application ↗Fayette County Environmental Health Department (Georgia Dept of Public Health, District 4)
Fayette County Building Safety - Environmental/Septic Approval ↗Floyd County Health Department, Environmental Health
Rome-Floyd County - Building Inspection (Health Department septic certificate) ↗Forsyth County Environmental Health, Land Use Section (District 2 Public Health, under Georgia DPH)
Forsyth County Environmental Health - Sewage ↗Franklin County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, GA DPH)
Franklin County - Environmental Health ↗Fulton County Board of Health, Environmental Health Services (District 3-2, under Georgia DPH)
Fulton County Board of Health, Well and Septic Inspection ↗Gilmer County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District, under GA DPH)
North Georgia Health District - Gilmer County Environmental Health ↗Glascock County Environmental Health, East Central Health District (Georgia DPH)
East Central Health District - On-Site Sewage / Wastewater Management ↗Glynn County Environmental Health (Coastal Health District, under GA DPH Onsite Sewage program)
Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Gordon County Environmental Health Department
Gordon County - Building Permit Process ↗Grady County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, GA DPH)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗Greene County Environmental Health
Greene County Septic Tank Permits ↗Gwinnett County Environmental Health (GNR Public Health District, under GA DPH)
GNR Health (Gwinnett) Septic Systems ↗Habersham County Environmental Health / Board of Health (under GA DPH district)
Habersham County Environmental Health - Septic Applications ↗Hall County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, Georgia DPH)
Hall County - On-Site Sewage Management Systems ↗Hancock County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District, Georgia Dept of Public Health)
North Central Health District - Hancock County Environmental Health ↗Haralson County Environmental Health (Northwest Georgia Public Health District, Georgia DPH)
Haralson County Board of Commissioners - Environmental Health Department ↗Harris County Environmental Health (West Central Health District, Georgia Department of Public Health)
Harris County Unified Development Code ↗Hart County Environmental Health (Georgia District 2 Public Health)
District 2 Public Health - Hart County Health Department ↗District 4 Public Health - Environmental Health (Heard County office)
District 4 Public Health - Wastewater Management ↗District 4 Public Health, Environmental Health (serving Henry County)
District 4 Public Health - Wastewater Management ↗Houston County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District)
North Central Health District - Houston County Environmental Health Department ↗South Health District (Irwin County Environmental Health)
South Health District - Irwin Environmental Health ↗Jackson County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health)
Jackson County GA - Septic Systems ↗Jasper County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District, GA DPH)
Jasper County Environmental Health Department - North Central Health District ↗Jeff Davis County Environmental Health, Southeast Health District
Southeast Health District - On-Site Sewage ↗Jefferson County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH, East Central Health District)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗East Central Health District (Georgia DPH District 6) - Jenkins County Environmental Health
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage (Environmental Health) ↗South Central Health District - Environmental Health (Johnson County)
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage ↗Jones County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District)
North Central Health District - Jones County Environmental Health ↗District 4 Public Health - Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
District 4 Public Health - Wastewater Management ↗South Health District — Lanier County Environmental Health
South Health District — Lanier Environmental Health ↗Laurens County Environmental Health (South Central Health District)
South Central Health District Environmental Health ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District (Georgia DPH) - Lee County Environmental Health
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗Coastal Health District - Liberty County Environmental Health
Georgia Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Lincoln County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH East Central Health District)
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage ↗Long County Environmental Health (Coastal Health District, Georgia DPH)
Coastal Health District - On-Site Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Lowndes County Environmental Health (South Health District, Georgia DPH)
South Health District — Environmental Services ↗Lumpkin County Environmental Health
Lumpkin County Environmental Health ↗Macon County Health Department (Environmental Health)
Macon County (GA) Construction and Inspection Reminders ↗Madison County Environmental Health, Northeast Health District (under GA DPH)
Northeast Health District - Septic Tank Permits ↗Marion County Environmental Health (West Central Health District)
West Central Health District - Marion County Health Department ↗East Central Health District Environmental Health (Georgia DPH District 6)
East Central Health District - McDuffie County Health Department ↗McIntosh County Environmental Health, Georgia Coastal Health District (under GA DPH)
Georgia Coastal Health District - McIntosh Co. Septic Applications ↗Meriwether County Environmental Health (District 4 Public Health)
District 4 Public Health - Meriwether County Environmental Health ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Miller County Environmental Health
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District / Mitchell County Environmental Health (under Georgia DPH)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District — Environmental Health ↗North Central Health District - Monroe County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH)
North Central Health District - Monroe County Environmental Health ↗Montgomery County Environmental Health - South Central Health District (Georgia DPH)
South Central Health District - Environmental Health Services ↗Northeast Health District Environmental Health (Georgia DPH District 10)
Northeast Health District - Environmental Health ↗Murray County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District 1-2, Georgia DPH)
Murray County - Environmental Health ↗Muscogee County Environmental Health (West Central Health District, under GA DPH Onsite Sewage program)
West Central Health District - Environmental Health ↗Newton County Environmental Health (Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale Health Departments / Georgia DPH)
Newton County Environmental Health — Septic System Permit Application ↗Oconee County Health Department, Environmental Services Division
Oconee County GA - UDC Article 14 ↗Oglethorpe County Environmental Health (Northeast Health District / District 10)
Northeast Health District - Sewage/Septic Systems ↗Paulding County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH district)
Paulding County Community Development - Private Dwelling Permit ↗Peach County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District, Georgia Department of Public Health)
North Central Health District - Peach County Environmental Health Department ↗Pickens County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District)
North Georgia Health District - Pickens Environmental Health ↗Pierce County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH district)
Georgia DPH - Pierce County contacts ↗Pike County Environmental Health (District 4 Public Health)
District 4 Public Health - Wastewater Management ↗Polk County Environmental Health (Northwest Georgia Public Health District), under GA DPH
Northwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health / Land Use ↗South Central Health District - Environmental Health (Pulaski County office)
South Central Health District - Environmental Health Services ↗Putnam County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District, Georgia DPH)
North Central Health District - Putnam County Environmental Health ↗Quitman County Environmental Health Department (West Central Health District, Georgia DPH)
West Central Health District — Quitman County Environmental Health Department ↗Rabun County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, under GA DPH)
District 2 Public Health - Rabun County Health Department ↗West Central Health District (Georgia DPH) - Randolph County Environmental Health
West Central Health District - Randolph County ↗Richmond County Environmental Health (East Central Health District, Georgia DPH)
Richmond County Environmental Health - East Central Health District ↗Rockdale County Board of Health, Environmental Health Section (Georgia DPH district)
Rockdale County Permits ↗West Central Health District (Georgia DPH) — Schley County Environmental Health, Ellaville
West Central Health District (GA DPH) — Schley County ↗Screven County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH health district)
Georgia DPH Onsite Sewage ↗Seminole County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District 8-2)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Seminole County Health Department ↗Spalding County Environmental Health Office (District 4 Public Health, Georgia DPH)
District 4 Public Health (GA) - Wastewater Management ↗Stephens County Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health, Georgia DPH)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗Stewart County Health Department — West Central Health District (District 7) Environmental Health, under Georgia Department of Public Health
West Central Health District — Stewart County Health Department ↗Sumter County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH Southwest Health District)
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage ↗Talbot County Health Department, Environmental Health (West Central Health District, Georgia DPH)
Talbot County Health Department - Septic Systems & Sewage ↗Taliaferro County Environmental Health (East Central Health District, GA DPH)
East Central Health District, Taliaferro County Health Department ↗Tattnall County Environmental Health (Georgia Department of Public Health county Board of Health / district)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗West Central Health District - Taylor County Environmental Health Department
West Central Health District - Taylor County Environmental Health ↗South Central Health District (District 5-1, Dublin), Environmental Health
South Central Health District – Environmental Health Services ↗Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health (Terrell County)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Environmental Health ↗Thomas County Health Department Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, GA DPH)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District — Thomas County ↗Tift County Environmental Health (South Health District, GA DPH)
Tift County Environmental Health - South Health District ↗Toombs County Environmental Health (Southeast Health District, Georgia DPH)
Georgia DPH - Toombs County Health Department ↗Towns County Health Department, Environmental Health (District 2 Public Health)
District 2 Public Health - Towns County Health Department ↗South Central Health District Environmental Health (Treutlen County)
South Central Health District - Environmental Health Services ↗Troup County Environmental Health (District 4 Public Health, under Georgia DPH)
Troup County Health Department - Environmental Health ↗Turner County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH South Health District)
Georgia DPH Onsite Sewage ↗Twiggs County Environmental Health (North Central Health District)
North Central Health District - Twiggs County Environmental Health ↗Union County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District, GA DPH)
North Georgia Health District - On-Site Sewage Management ↗Upson County Environmental Health (District 4 Public Health, GA DPH)
Upson County, GA - Environmental Health ↗Walker County Environmental Health (Georgia Department of Public Health, Northwest Health District)
Walker County - Environmental Health ↗Walton County Environmental Health (county board of health, under Georgia DPH district)
Walton County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 39 Art. IV - On-Site Management Systems ↗Ware County Health Department (Southeast Health District)
Ware County Health Department - Southeast Health District ↗Warren County Environmental Health (East Central Health District)
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage Management ↗Washington County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District, GA DPH)
Washington County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District) ↗Wayne County Health Department Environmental Health (Southeast Health District, Georgia DPH)
Southeast Health District - Wayne County Health Department ↗West Central Health District (District 7), Environmental Health
West Central Health District – Environmental Health ↗South Central Health District (District 5-1, Dublin), Environmental Health
South Central Health District – Environmental Health Services ↗White County Environmental Health (Georgia DPH / District 2 Public Health)
Georgia Department of Public Health - Onsite Sewage ↗Whitfield County Environmental Health (North Georgia Health District, under GA DPH On-Site Sewage Management program)
North Georgia Health District - On-Site Sewage Management Systems ↗South Central Health District Environmental Health
South Central Health District - Sewage Program ↗Wilkes County Environmental Health (East Central Health District)
Georgia DPH - Onsite Sewage Management ↗Wilkinson County Environmental Health Department (North Central Health District)
North Central Health District - Wilkinson County Environmental Health ↗Worth County Environmental Health (Southwest Georgia Public Health District, District 8-2)
Southwest Georgia Public Health District - Worth County ↗Every county here has a full profile — its index score, water, land prices, and the rest of its building rules. See the Georgia state page for all counties ranked, or the national septic guide.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
